Echoes of the Past

Rakuen No Tobira

2005-10-15T22:00:00.000+08:00

http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/ragnarok/
(Anime) Matantei Loki Ragnarok: Rakuen no tobira (Door to Paradise)

Opening Song

shiroi mikatzuki machi wo miorusi koro ni
aoi meikyuu kara mashuo ga mezame hajimaru
As the white crescent moon looks down on the street
The devilishness begins to awaken from the blue labyrinth

ah tsumibukai kono chijou boy (boy)
believing dreaming
boku tachi wa sagashiteru
tamashii no mezasubeki basho wo
Ah, on this sinful earth, boy (boy)
Believing Dreaming
We are searching
For the place that souls should aim for

ah dore kurai fukai yami hikari ni kaetara
sekai no iro ga kawaru? (ah itsuka kitto)
ah dore kurai fukai nazo ikutsu mo toitara
rakuen no doa wa hiraku? (hiraku)
bokura no tabi wo start hajimeyou
Ah, how much, if the deep darkness turned to light,
Would the color of the world change? (Ah, someday surely)
Ah, how much, if we solve so many deep riddles,
Will the door to paradise open? (open)
Start our journey, let's begin

nagai akumu ni dare mo utasareta mama
itsuka nareteku doku ni shibareru you ni
Everyone is dreaming a long nightmare
Someday you get used to it, like being numbed by poison

ah kaosu ni michita koko kara boy ( boy )
flying awakening
kurikaesu ayamachi no
rinnen no kusuri wo toki wa nate
Ah, from this place filled with chaos, boy (boy)
Flying Awakening
Unfasten the chains of the endless cycle
Of repeating mistakes

ah dore kurai tooku made tabishite kaereba
wakaru no? kami no philosophy (ah itsuka kitto)
ah dore kurai nagai toki tabi shite ishiki wa
shinden no doa wo hiraku? (hiraku)
mirai shinwa (wo) start tsukurouyo
Ah, how much, if we return from a distant journey,
Will we understand? God's Philosophy (Ah, someday surely)
Ah, how much, will the consciousness that journeyed a long time
Open the door to the temple? (open)
Start the future legend, let's create it

kimi ga yukunara tsute yukitai hatesbau shinbi toki akase
If you are going, I want to follow, unraveling the endless mystery

ah dore kurai fukai yami hikari ni kaetara
sekai no iro ga kawaru? (ah itsuka kitto)
ah dore kurai fukai nazo ikutsu mo toitara
rakuen no doa wa hiraku? (hiraku)
bokura no tabi wo start hajimeyou

Ah, how much, if the deep darkness turned to light,
Would the color of the world change? (Ah, someday surely)
Ah, how much, if we solve so many deep riddles,
Will the door to paradise open? (open)
Start our journey, let's begin

Transliterated by Nanami Hijiri

Translated by Elwen Skye
http://www.twin-elements.com/

Another day goes by...

2005-07-10T12:58:00.000+08:00

When I still ask for help.

I don't know who to turn to.

I don't know who would allow me to turn to them.

Help...

Reflection

2005-07-10T12:52:00.000+08:00

Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day It's as if I play a part
Now I see If I
wear a mask I can fool the world

But I cannot fool my heart
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside

I am now
In a world where
I Have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow I will
show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am

Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else
For all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside

There's a heart that must be free to fly
That burns with a need to know the reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think
How we feel
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide
I won't pretend that
I'm Someone else
For all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside

Colors of the Wind

2005-07-10T12:47:00.000+08:00

You think I'm an ignorant savage
And you've been so many places, I guess it must be so
But still I cannot see, if the savage one is me
How can there be so much that you don't know?
You don't know...

You think you own whatever land you land on
The earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name

You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or ask the grinning bob cat why he grinned
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sun-sweet berries of the earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once never wonder what they're worth

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle in a hoop that never ends

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or let the eagle tell you where hes been
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountian
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind

How high does that sycamore grow
If you cut it down then you'll never know
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper skinned
We need sing with all the voices of the mountain
We need paint with all the colours of the wind

You can own the earth and still
All you'll own is earth until
You can paint with all the colours of the wind

Kung Fu Hustle

2005-05-30T16:50:00.000+08:00

A funny film. Some of the comments on it was "like shaolin soccer". Chinese Comedy Martial Arts Film, but compared to the other films, these one had a lot of CG in it. It's obvious and easy to spot but knowing they're CG didn't decrement my enthusiasm while watching.

Basically, the movie has a very simple plot. What really kicks are the different martial arts and master warriors having their own specialty. Do not laugh when you hear of the Fairy or the Beast, these warriors are capable of dwindling down the numbers of the Axe Gang, the most feared gang. Only masters can defeat masters, and whoever has the older or more 'lost' technique will always win.

The hero is rather predictable and his destiny is the usual triumph over the strongest of those who survived. Starting as a pathetic loser, he ends up strong enough to decimate buildings without much effort.

The movie is fast-paced showing more comic and action than the story itself. Showing funny sequences that resemble anime or looney tunes chases gave it a complete westernized asian feel. The stunts and fighting could perhaps be compared to The Matrix even. Simply put, this action movie is worth the time.

This film only has one purpose, short-term entertainment. It's barely over 90 minutes in length and the quick jump of scenes made it even shorter. But it's a good film. nice download.

Can This Be Love?

2005-05-15T21:28:00.000+08:00

Can This Be Love

A film about a love shared by a Filipino and Korean. But the film is not just about a developing relationship, rather, a deeper sense of nationality can be seen. We can see the two main characters as two contrasting points of view. Ryan, being the Filipino, showed the trend among Filipino students nowadays. In the film, he is a third year college student taking up Nursing. Like the trend now, he plans to work abroad after graduating. This is opposite to the intention of Daisy. She is currently studying English here in the Philippines because it is cheaper here than in Korea. She is also curious on the reasons why her friends want to leave their home country while she would return to hers after finishing her semester. We can see great contrast here. The Filipino studies in the Philippines to get a job outside the country while the Korean would study outside her country to get a job in Korea.

In terms of status, it is obvious that the film intended to show Ryan to be of lower class. This is proven by the fact that he needed a part time job even though he has a scholarship. Daisy, on the other hand, was shown to come from a well-off family, being able to send her to study. However, the costumes didn't agree on Ryan's status since he always looked well dressed, perhaps it was only to show his determination to always look best in front of Daisy.

Another contrasting point of view here is the sexist issue. Is it true that the person who invited someone to a date should be the one to treat the other or should it be the Male who should always treat the Female? There was a scene where the two main characters had a minor conflict when Ryan didn't want Daisy to pay for her own ice cream. I find it shallow but, of course, there is a reason for this scene. Daisy couldn't understand why she, being the foreigner who is rich, should not be allowed to treat him, of lower class. Ryan then made it a point that whenever he invites her to go out, he would treat her all the time.

When it comes to relationships, Ryan didn't specify what person he wants. In fact, he didn't know that she was from Korea when they were just sending text messages. Also, Daisy wasn't really choosey when it comes to having a boyfriend, compared to her friends in the boarding house since they all wanted a foreign husband and get out of the country.

There were other scenes that had the same messages mentioned above. All I can say is that there was a big issue when it comes to relationships between two different nationalities. Sadly, these issues often reflect the characteristic of the people of their country. When a disagreement is at hand, stereotyping the other would often be used as a reson and thus, worsen the conflict.

Differences cannot be avoided. Individuality is a trait of Humans. We are all born different. And getting along will always be a challenge.

Too many aspirations?!

2005-05-14T23:11:00.000+08:00

Is it possible that I do have too many aspirations? What do you mean by aspirations? Dreams? Goals? A direction of life? A meaning to an existence? Or simply the joy of accomplishing?

Things I'd like to achieve or do:
Learn Multimedia programs like 3DSMax, Maya, AVID, Final Cut, Swish, Flash. (Actually, I already some of the basics, it's the being the 'expert' that I'd like to do)
Get my own laptop (pref Mac, for the Mac programs mentioned above)
Improve on Playing the Guitar (I'm a frustrated musician, need I say more?)
Be rich (either own a film company or simply be a "Rich Dad" - read Rich Dad, Poor Dad)
Build a free school for the people (would focus on on how to live, finding a reason to live and choice. what our people need is to realize that life is much more than just living. perhaps this school would also be non-sectarian but would still religion - all major religions)

Where is becoming an Engineer to do with all these? What's the connection?

To be continued... I need to assess a lot of things. Also, my mind is kinda drained since my last post in my LJ account is quite tiring.

High tide at Low Tide

2005-05-13T20:27:00.000+08:00

Sa isang lugar, may naghaharing dyosa kung saan siya ang pinakamagandang babae sa lugar na iyon. Siya ang dyosa ng tubig at pinaparusahan niya kung sinoman ang magsasayang ng tubig. Hindi niya alam na may isang babae na pinanganak na naging masmaganda sa kanya. Ng lumaki ito, madaming lalaki ang nagkagusto sa kanya. Nalaman ng dyosa ang balita at nagalit siya. Pinalayas niya ang babaeng maganda. Sa galit ng mga kapamilya ng babae, sila ay nagbalak gumanti. Nung gabing iyon. sinayang at tinapon nila lahat ng tubig sa lugar na iyon. Dahil sa ginawa nila, nag-‘curse’ ang dyosa: dahandahan mababawasan ang tubig sa lugar na iyon. Kumalat ang balita hanggang ito ay makarating dun sa babaeng pinalayas. Sa kanyang lungkot, hinahanap niya ang diyos ng buwan at humingi ng tulong. Sabi ng diyos ng buwan, tutulungan daw niya yung babae kung papayag yung babae na matulog sa gitna dagat. Pumayag siya. Gumawa siya ng kama na gawa sa kawayan upang ito ay lumutang sa dagat. Dinala niya ito sa dagat at natulog siya dito. Ginawa ng diyos ng buwan ang sinabi niya, dahandahan bumalik ang tubig na nawala. Ngunit ang babae ay hindi maaaring matulog habang buhay, habang gising siya, hindi pinaparami ng diyos ng buwan ang tubig at kumokonti ang tubig dahil sa dyosa ng tubig. Pagnatulog lang ang babae, doon lang dadami ang tubig uli.

Marikina trip

2005-05-08T20:28:00.000+08:00

Went to Marikina today for two reasons: repair my guitar and see what's to be seen in marikina riverbanks.

My friends already know how much my guitar costs but only few understand it's true price. I'm not a person of fashion, nor am I person who makes a big deal out of physical attributes. My guitar actually looks albino, quite white (will turn yellow after 2 years). Unusual for a guitar since it usually has a yellow or light brown front with a dark brown or black side and back. Mine was white all over except for the fret boards. Its varnish isn't attractive either. It doesn't shine like most wood varnish. That's because, that specific finish is is called French Polish. A technique used to improve the sound of the guitar by using varnish made of wood sap unlike the usual varnish that isn't wood-based. I could talk about my guitar endlessly but it's true value is in its sound. Easy as it may seem, it is actually very difficult to describe the emotion felt as the audience of a guitar player playing classical music. Perhaps it would be better to listen to it than talk about it...

As mentioned above, the second purpose of my visit to marikina is to see the culture around marikina riverbanks. We passed by the marikina bridge and saw some carnival like decor on the left side of the river (coming from san mateo). I didn't see much since I was driving. My mom and I went to Marikina Riverbanks Arcade. It is a mall built on an old factory. I don't know what the original factory was for, I can only observe that this mall is actually composed of one-story buildings with a warehouse frame and look. The covered parking area is at the far side. We parked there and walked towards the river. We passed through the mall, rather than the walking in the outside heat. The mall, my mom said, is a class C-D Market. Second hand appliances are sold and there isn't a strict dresscode. She told me to compare it to Rustance where you would find second hand products or people in house slippers inside the mall. Outside, we saw this train facade. At first I thought it served as a monument, it turns out to be the front of a restaurant, Taverna Marquina (Marikina Tavern? not sure tho). Going further towards the bridge, we noticed a lot of military people stationed. There was an event. The Philippine Army Summer Caravan/Exhibit featuring the military and its projects. There was a boat ride provided by the military. The ride just tours a part of the river and back. The featured the face paint used by military, they painted some of the civilians. They also discussed how their camouflage gear is worn. In the same booth, Captain Magarro explained to my mom and I the purpose of the different parachutes. Guns were also at display for the civilians to try and aim. There were rifles, bazookas, etc. The music in the air came from the military brass band. It can be heard even from afar. We looked for General Senga in the information booth, too bad he wasn't there since he had other obligations. General Senga is actually a good friend of my dad.

One thing I noticed was the newly painted vehicles and cannons, with the mobile medical surgical unit that had "Fort Bonifacio" printed on its hood. It sure looks neat but one could would always ask a simple yet profound question: "why?". Perhaps recruiting for new cadets isn't the purpose of this exhibit. Perhaps, they needed publicity. I'm not aware of the current events, whatever the reason maybe, I believe it's for the Human Rights Violation issue that has always been spreading around.

Aside from the military, the place is worth the observation. You could see a clear blue sheet-like sky with white streaks of cotton as the kites flew so high in it. There was not a single high-rise building since this place used to be factory and not a commercialized area. The ground was shaped to form an ampi-theater like architecture. A center for stage while the audience sit around it as they see the river behind the stage. Connecting the two banks was a floating bridge. This bridge is on top of water filled with lots of big black fish. I couldn't figure out what fish it is tho. Basically, that's the Marikina trip to riverbanks.

Sadly, I only remembered of the Cafe Kapitan Restaurant which has an old spanish era-like design. This is where we shot for a short film way back in first year highschool. It was a scene in Noli Me Tangere. That's all I could remember...

Purpose of Blogging...

2005-05-08T19:57:00.000+08:00

The purpose of actually writing anything...

Before, I thought writing only has one simple purpose: to be read. A fact to be always true. What's the point of writing if it will never be read. A more important question, however, has to be taken as well: Who is the reader?. Now that seems to clear a lot of things. Perhaps, it could also be the very basis for differentiating the different styles or purposes of writing.

Examples of this style or purpose is blogging or web log. Others refer to it as an online journal or diary. Seemingly, all these are similar. There is no specific rule on how you write in your journals, there is no grammar or vocabulary checking in diary, no right or wrong in web logging. Basically, there's no rule, just write anything.

So what's the purpose? I have an online journal in Livejournal. There, I write things about my day-to-day experiences, upcoming events in my life, anything about music, and other miscellaneous stuff that I'd like to tell other people. Of course, they're not required to read it but given the free time, they actually do. I was surprised at first, didn't know there were people actually interested in those boring days of mine. It's actually fun when they comment, I meant, knowing they commented means they read it. On the otherside, I feel down when I don't see a comment on a post of mine that's been there for a week. It usually happens when I talk about Warcraft or Starwars, two distinct universes that not everyone is aware of. Then I had a talk with one of my friends. She said, "Don't write for everyone to read, rather, write for your own purpose" (or something like that). I think everyone (who isn't required to make a blog) is excited on making their own blog. I was happy knowing that other people will read stuff and reply on topics that you wish you and your friends talk about all the time, that short but fun experience when everyone keeps quiet as they listen to you, the topics which you are an expert of. But of course, that only happens sometime and you have to be a listener too. My friend told me that blogging isn't for that. Yes of course, people read and reply but that's not the purpose of blogging. "Keep a journal for yourself, and not for anybody else", that's what she meant. And that's a reason for blogging. It isn't for someone to read or for someone to reply about, it's because you wish to keep a certain memory in words. Sometime later, perhaps it would be read again, and the reader will be you.

Requiem For A Dream (II)

2005-04-29T13:12:00.000+08:00

I finally have the OST

Downloaded using bittorrent (yes... i know, piracy. if i have the money, i'll search for it and buy it. btw, that's a big IF)

Track List:
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Summer Overture
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Party
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Coney Island Dreaming
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Party
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Chocolate Charms
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Ghosts of Things to Come
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Dreams
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Tense
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Dr. Pill
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: High on Life
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Ghosts
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Crimin' & Dealin'
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Hope Overture
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Tense
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Summer: Bialy & Lox Conga
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Fall: Cleaning Apartment
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Fall: Ghosts-Falling
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Fall: Dreams
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Fall: Arnold
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Fall: Marion Barfs
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Fall: Supermarket Sweep
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Fall: Dreams
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Fall: Sara Goldfarb Has Left the Building
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Fall: Bugs Got a Devilish Grin Conga
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Winter: Winter Overture
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Winter: Southern Hospitality
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Winter: Fear
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Winter: Full Tense
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Winter: The Beginning of the End
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Winter: Ghosts of a Future Lost
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Winter: Meltdown
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Winter: Lux Aeterna
Clint Mansell (Featuring Kronos Quartet) - Winter: Coney Island Low

Style:
The OST uses both classical and techno music styles. The techno music was used for the party music, confusion mood setting, "when taking drugs" scenes, etc. The classical style was used for the introduction of seasons and intense mood settings like despair and hopelessness.

Interpretation:
Even without watching the movie, one could perceive a tragic loss when listening to its sad music tracks. The slow tempo suggest a slow plunge to a certain doom.

When the bass and soft sound starts, confusion and loss of self is felt. It is quite long and repetitive suggesting redunduncy to the events happening from day to day. It is like living a life of pointless desires. Depression could also be induced. As the music gets louder, it seems that a certain person is travelling without direction and let life pass him by. When the louder (and sometimes, faster) notes come, it is when the main character realizes that he is taking the wrong path to his dreams. Unfortunately, he has fallen so deep in that well of doom that no matter what he does, escape is futile. The music will rather end abruptly suggesting hopelessness. There's no way to escape that hole even if you are already aware of your mistakes. (Summer: Summer Overture, Hope Overture, Fall: Cleaning Apartment, Ghosts-Falling, Marion Barfs, Winter: Lux Aeterna)

(FYI: Lux Aeterna is Light Eternal or Eternal Light)

Most of the songs are simply for transition or simple background music. Like the party songs (during parties), Coney Island (beside the beach dream with Marion on the end of a port, the dream of Harry) are just background music to set the feel of the place. Songs with Dreams in their titles are also for transition.

There are a few songs of intense tragic and despair. Songs which when you listen to, you already know or feel that someone is about to die or who has no chance of redeeming themselves or simply, who are hopeless in their situations. The combination of loud, train-like music suggests a crazy, uncontrollable person wandering. Their titles even suggest more to their meaning. (Winter: Southern Hospitality, The Beginning of the End, Meltdown)

Yet there is a song that suggested hope and change. Though I could not clearly define its purpose, it had a good and positive aura to it.(Winter: Ghosts of a Future Lost)

There are still songs I could not understand, like the Ghost songs. What's the Ghost they're rferring to? The songs with Dreams in their title doesn't exactly depict dreams in my mind. I woner what it meant.

I can feel so much regret and repression in some of their tracks, but not on my past, rather, the events that happened in the movie that lead to the destruction of the characters. Clearly, this is a sign of postmodernism.

Note: These abstract thoughts and personal interpretations are best understood after watching the film, "Requiem For A Dream".

Droga at Adiksyon

2005-04-26T13:08:00.000+08:00

ELISI (Rivermaya)

Hindi maiiwasan ang kahirapan at hindi rin maiiwasan ang kalungkutan. Pag ang tao ay malungkot; maaari itong maghanap ng bagay na makapagpapasaya sa kanya o manatiling magmukmok. Ang desisyon ay depende sa bawat tao.

Kapag narinig mo ang Elisi ng Rivermaya habang ikaw ay masaya (o inosente sa mga ginagawa ng droga), hindi mo maiisip na ito ay isang kanta para gumamit ng mga gamot na pampasaya. Ano ba ang saya na hinahanap ng tao? Ito ba ang pagiging sikat? pagkakaroon ng makakapitan? solusyon sa problema?

May palalim na sinasabi ang kantang ito. Ang kumakanta ay ang Elisi, at sinasabi niya na kaya niyang lutasin lahat ng problema na maaari mong hinaharap. Para sa akin, hindi ko matanggap na totoo nga, droga nga ang nagsasalita. Baka may iba pang ibig sabihin ang Elisi.

Sa kanta, sinasabi ng Elisi na kung ikaw ay sobrang malungkot at akala mo'y hindi ka na maaaring masagip (Stanza I), may pagasa ka pa kung ikaw ay kumapit sa kanya (Refrain). Tulad ng eroplano, ikaw ay dadalhin nito sa iba't ibang lugar at mararamdaman mo ang kaligayahan (diba sabi nga: "Filipinoes love to travel"). Ikaw ay magtiwala (sa eroplano at kanyang 'crew') at ikaw ay malayo sa panganib. NGUNIT sinabi ng elisi na

Sapagkat ngayong gabi
Ako ang mahiwagang elisi

Hindi naman sa gabi lang lumilipad ang eroplano? Kung iisipin natin ang bentilador na meron din elisi, tulad ng eroplano, ito ay makakapagbigay ng ligaya (kunwari mainit) ngunit hindi lang sa gabi ito binubuksan. At bakit mahiwaga? Baka nga, droga ang isinasabi nito.

Sa susunod na Stanza (II), ipinapakita uli ang iba't ibang klaseng problema natin. Simple, Malubha ay pareho lang sabagkat ang problema ay problema.

Minsan ako’y nangailangan
Daglian kang lumapit sa akin
Ibinulong mo kaibigan
Ako ang iyong liwanag sa dilim

Ang droga ba ay nangailangan? Ang droga ay maaari ngang itawag na kaibigan (o kaaway) at ito rin ay maaari maging liwanag sa dilim ngunit nasabi uli ang dilim (o gabi). Ang buhay ay hindi puro gabi at hindi puro dilim. At ang kaibigan ay hindi lang kinakausap o ibunubulungan kapag tayo'y may problema. So hindi rin maaari maging tao ang Elisi.

Kung iisipin natin na droga nga yun, karamihan ng sinasabi ay may katotohanan. Pero ang interpretasyon ay depende sa nagbabasa (o nakikinig). Hindi natin masasabi agad na ito ay nagiimpluwensya o hindi ng droga.

ALAPAAP (Eraserheads)

Ano ba ang alapaap? Hindi ba ito parang langit o 'clouds'?

Tulad ng Elisi, nagbibigay ito ng 'suggestion' na lutas sa iba't ibang suliranin na ating nahaharap. At tulad ng Elisi, nagsasabi ito ng isa pang 'mundo' kung saan ikaw ay magiging malaya at walang problema.

Hindi mo na kailangan ang magtago’t mahiya
Hindi mo na kailangan ang humanap ng iba
Kalimutan na muna ang lahat ng problema
Huminga ka nang malalim at tayo’y lalarga na
Handa ka na bang gumala?

Ito ang mundo na gusto nilang ipahiwatig. Mundo kung saan wala tayong problema.

Masdan mo’ng aking mata
Di mo ba nakikita?
Ako ngayo’y lumilipad
At nasa langit na
Gusto mo bang sumama?

Alam pa rin na sila ay nasa ating mundo at dahil gusto nilang tumakas (kasama tayo), tayo ay kanilang niyayaya na sumama sa kanilang mundo.

Andaming bawal sa mundo
Sinasakal nila tayo
Buksan ang puso at isipan
Paliparin ang kamalayan

Ito ang ating mundo na kung saan gusto ng bitawan lahat ng kumakanta. Sinasakal sapagkat sila ay nagrerebelde. Hindi ka naman masasakal kung tayo ay gumagawa ng tama o sumusunod sa mga batas. Buksan ang puso at isipan sa maaaring solusyon na droga nga.

Requiem For A Dream

2005-04-26T08:09:00.000+08:00

The Narrative:
Requiem - a liturgical ceremony for the dead. Also known as a Funeral Mass. focusing on the resurrection of those who are baptised in faith rather than the death itself.

Dream - as a child, we refer to what we experience while sleeping a dream (if positive and nightmare if scary or the similar). some say that our dreams show the future, shows our unconscious desires, our true nature that is hidden below the facade that we create. in this film, dreams are considered to be our ambitions and goals in life.

Requiem For A Dream... A film showing the death of dreams due to drugs.

Do you have dreams? Do you think all people have dreams? Certainly! Some people dream of owning their own multinational company. Others dream of a safe, peaceful nation. Yet others simply dream of having a house they could call their own. There is no standard, no governing rule to say that your dream is worthy or what dreams you may have. A dream is a dream, a desire which gives our lives direction. But what if, the direction we take doesn't lead to our dream? What if, the path we step on is actually going the other way, towards our nightmares...

Requiem For A Dream is a film whose objective is to show "addicts" that there is hope only if they ask for help. It is a common case that addicts do not seek professionals because of fear or simply because they have given up on life itself. The four main characters of the film have their own ambitions: Harry and Tyrone wanted to make it big, make a lot of cash so they could rest easy. Marion wanted to start her own dress business and settle down with Harry. Sara wanted to be in television and shout to the whole world how proud she is to have his son. These dreams are not so impossible. Actually, they're quite common and very much plausible if only you take the right steps. However, there was one big hindrance between them and their definition of success: Drug Addiction. Sadly, Harry and Tyrone wanted to make it big... in the Drug Trade Industry. Marion and Harry ran a relationship based on drugs and sex. Marion is actually a prostitute that uses the money to fund the dress she makes. Sara was so obsessed in showing up on TV that she decided to take diet pills to lose weight and look good in front of the camera. Sadly, these actions lead to their inevitable fall.

Drugs has always been a problem. It was created for a purpose. How does one classify a pill to be considered a drug or multivitamin? Once simple difference is that drugs have a side-effect. It is tested and proven to serve a certain purpose, however, side-effects are a common accomplice to its purpose.

The Film:
The film itself is beautiful. I believe that it is a post modern film. Similar to Kill Bill and Moulin Rouge, different non-linear techniques were used to depict the message.

Heavy film editing was used, showing the different moments of agony. While Tyrone was shouting in jail, while sara was being somewhat tortured, while they were all in their own unhappy situations, the editing makes us feel the pain, confusion and regret. The split screen method is usually annoying when it stays long but they used it just right for us to see the simultaneous events that are happening. They show someone taking in drugs by a series of very short films in extreme close up. There were cells, white substance which they inject, the drop of white power on the smooth black surface then sucked up by a rolled up paper of some sort. And then this series is followed by the characters who now look different, feeling better than the scene before it.

The acting was also great, you could really feel the desire and tension between their mishaps and their successes. You could feel their desperation in their eyes, their joys in their movements and their drug addiction all the time.

The props and place used showed how disorganized they were. They had dreams yet they don't have directions. The scattered papers, messy pads, etc. They all depicted how they had been living before.

There were other elements worth noting but the most impressive of them all (for me, at least) is the music (im downloading the OST right now). I could not explain how it got trapped in my head. Perhaps I could explain later when I get to hear it again.

Bibliography:
A Film Review by James Berardinelli. James Berardinelli. (http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/r/requiem_dream.html)

Requiem. From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Requiem)

First Post

2005-04-18T17:43:00.000+08:00

First post! Actually, I already have a LiveJournal account (www.livejournal.com/~xeratol) . That one is entitled "The Frustrated Musician". Check out my first few posts in that lj to find out why. This blogg is entitled "Echoes of the Past" simply because that was the title of the song I was listening to when I made this blogg. That song came from the World of Warcraft Original Soundtrack. That same song could also be heard in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness and Beyond the Dark Portal.

This would be all for now, I wonder if I'd still be using this blogg after Pan Pil 17 this summer. Btw, this blogg is made especially for Pan Pil 17.